If true off-roaders are your thing, then the new Jeep Wrangler is probably high on your shopping list.
It may feel like it was presented last year, or the year before, but it will soon celebrate its third anniversary, having entered production at the end of 2017.
Still instantly recognizable as a Jeep and more importantly as a Wrangler, it boasts the timeless looks of its predecessors, albeit with a few changes here and there.
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The cockpit has been heavily redesigned and it now features the brand’s latest infotainment system that is intuitive and customizable. Pairing your smartphone to it is easy, and depending on which trim level you choose, you will get things such as leather upholstery, automatic climate control and a generous list of safety systems. Most things work very well according to Kelley Blue Book, which spent six months in the company of a 2019 Wrangler Sahara that cost $53,860, or $15,215 more than the official MSRP.
As the reviewer notes in the wrap up video, the SUV is surprisingly comfortable on the highway and great off the beaten path. However, the steering that lacks feedback and requires constant adjusting even on straight roads and transmission that is anything but smooth is not to everyone’s liking. Also, swapping the roof is a tiring multi-person operation.
Parking it on the street was not a good idea, as it got its LED headlamps stolen, facilitated by the hood that doesn’t have a locking mechanism – and they are not exactly cheap. Nonetheless, that was only a part of the six-month test, as they detail the most important positive and negative aspects of their life with the Wrangler in the clip right below.